Non-Completion Of Chambal River Bridge Connecting MP With UP: Madhya Pradesh High Court Issues Notice To State For Inaction Over 10 Yrs

The Division Bench of Justice Anand Pathak and Rajendra Kumar Vani at Gwalior directed the state government, PWD Principal Secretary and PWD Chief Engineer, Bhopal to file a reply within four weeks.

The petitioner-in-person, Advocate Awdhesh Singh Bhadauria, initially filed a writ petition in 2014 seeking the construction of a bridge over River Chambal at Ambah - Pinahat Road (Usaid Ghat) and Ater - Jaitpur Road (Ater Ghat) to bolster the socio-economic development in the area. He submitted that connecting the Morena and Bhind Districts in Madhya Pradesh with Uttar Pradesh is important to boost trade and transportation between these areas.

In 2018, the state governments filed a status report stating that the high-level bridge of Ater Ghat was nearly completed. Since there were 18 pillars to be constructed, and most of the work ought to be carried out down to the surface area, the state added that the bridge would be completed by June 2019 as per the agreement terms.

Construction of the high-level bridge at Usaid Ghat was also progressing satisfactorily according to the state. There was a subsequent revision regarding the width of the bridge due to the declaration of the Ambah-Pinahat road as a state highway, the government submitted before the High Court in 2018.

In July 2018, the court disposed of the aforesaid writ petition after recording the steps taken by the state to finish the work immediately.

In 2020, the petitioner approached the High Court again via another W.P 19301/2020 citing the state's non-fulfilment of promises regarding the construction of bridges. Once again, the High Court issued notices to the state authorities. The government, in turn, assured that the construction work would be completed within 36 months. The court gave Bhadauria liberty to revive the PIL by filing an interlocutory application in case the state government failed to deliver.

As a result, the petitioner filed a fresh application for rehearing WP 19301/2024. In the application, he has highlighted the government's disregard for the court-given time mandate of 3 years to finish construction.

Case Title: Awdhesh Singh Bhadauria v. The State Of M.P. & Ors.

Case No: WP No. 19031 of 2020

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